Mattress-stuffing machine.



PATBNTED JULY 7, 1903.

A. R. KEZER. MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1902.

H0 MODEL.

M4 Zflm. I J lZ n/ mbmmw. BY w -W FITTG/P/VE'YJ'.

UNITED STATES Patented July *7, 1903.

ALLEN R. KEZER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MATTRESS-STUFFING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 33,324, dated July 7, 1903. Application filed August 4,1902. Serial liol18,324. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALLEN R. KEZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in lilattress-Stuffing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for stu ffing into mattress-ticks the filling material therefor; and the objects thereof are to provide a machine that will expeditiously perform said operation and one that may be easily adjusted to fill mattresses of different widths. I accomplish these objects by the machine described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, which is a perspective view of my machine.

In the drawing, A represents the upright corner-posts of the press-frame, which are united at the top by the transverse timbers B and the longitudinal timbers C. At a suitable distance above the bottom of the cornerposts is rigidly secured to said corner-posts the bottom D of the press-box, in which the material used for stuffing the mattress-tick is arranged and pressed. One side, E, of this press-box is rigidly affixed to the corner-posts or to the bottom, while the other side, F, is secured to the side rack bars G, guided in grooves H, cutin the corner-posts, and is movable across the bottom towardand from the other side to adjust the box to the different widths of the mattresses. In suitable bearings affixed to the corner-posts below these rack -bars is shaft 1, which carries gears J, which mesh with the racks G on the .lower side of the side rack-bars to give both ends of the movable side the same travel toward or from the other side. The corner-posts between the tops ofthe sides of the press-box and the top timbers have transverse slots K therein, through which extend the ends of the transverse pressure-bars L, to the bottom of which, preferably on the same side as the fixed side, is rigidly secured the non transversemovable section M of the top of the press-box, the ends of which project slightly beyond the pressure-bars and afford a bearing to the outer ends of the transversely-movable section N of the top of the press-box, which said bars 0, which are provided with a flange that slides in grooves L in the pressure-bars.

Mounted in bearings affixed to the pressure-bars is shaft P, on which are gears R,

which mesh with the racks O of the top rackbars. By means of a crank S on the end of shaft P the movable sections of the top of press-box can be moved toward or from the fixed section. The section N may be made of steel plate, so as to preserve the inner surface of the top of the press-box as nearly level as possible.

Mountedin bearings affixed to the upright posts A is shaft T, which carries sprocketwheels U, over which pass sprocket-chains V. The ends of these chains are fastened to the ends of the pressure-bars, passing through a hole therein, and are held from slipping by set-screw W, which permits the chains to be tightened, if desired. These chains pass over idler-pulleys X at the top corner of the frame and thence over and around sprocket-wheels Y, rigidly affixed on a shaft mounted in bearings affixed upon the cross-timbers B. There is a separate chain for each end of the pressurebars, the chains on one side of the frame at the bottom passing over sprocket-wheels, as described, while on the other side of the machine at the bottom they may pass around idler-pulleys, and there are two sprocketwheels rigidly affixed on shafts mounted in bearings affixed to the cross-timbers at each end, so that when shaft T is rotated the cover of the press-box is moved up or down.

On shaft T is loosely mounted friction-gear 1, which may be locked thereto by clutch 2, operated by lever 3. Gear 1 engages with friction-gear 4:, which is rigidly mounted on power-shaft 5, carrying pulley 6, to which power is applied by belt 7. This power-shaft is mounted in suitable bearings affixed to the plunger-frame 8, on the top of which is the plunger, which is composed of two sections, one of which, 9, telescopes on the section 9, so as to adjust the plunger to fit the full width of the press-box for every size of mattress made in the machine, and are held in their adjustable positions by a set-screw 22. The section 9' is suitably braced by adjustable bracerod 10. The other section is rigidly fastened to the plunger rack-bar 11, on the top of which is rack 12, which engages with frictiongear 13, rigidly affixed on shaft-14, which is mounted in bearings affixed to the plungerframe. This shaft carries loose belt-pulleys 15 and 16, which can be alternately locked thereto by a clutch operated by lever 17. Said clutch may be disengaged from both pulleys. Passing over these pulleys are straight belt 18 and crossed belt 19, which also pass over pulleys 20 and 21, rigidly mounted on the power-shaft.

In the operation of my machine the pressbox and plunger are adjusted to the desired width of the mattress. Power is applied to draw the top of the press-box to the top of the frame, where it is held by any suitable device. The material with which the tick is to be filled is then evenly spread in the pressbox, and the top of the press-box is released and descends by gravity,-or power may be applied to move it. As soon as it rests upon the material in the bottom portion of the press box power is applied to shaft T to cause the material to be compressed as much as required. The mattress-tick is then fastened to the end of the press-box and is supported in proper position in the usual manner. These last features are not shown, not being part of my invention. Motion is then imparted to the plunger to cause it to push the filling material into the tick. The motion is then reversed to retract the plunger and the top is again raised, when the machine is again ready for the next mattress.

If desired, the adjustable features of the top and sides of the press-box and of the plunger may be omitted and different machines constructed for difierent sizes of mattresses.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mattress-stuffing machine such as described herein, means for raising and lowering the top of the press-box comprising a shaft mounted in bearings affixed to the frame near the bottom thereof; sprocket-wheels on said shaft, one at each end thereof; sprocketwheels affixed on shafts mounted in bearings affixed to the top cross't-imbers of said frame, (two wheels on one shaft at each end,) sprocket-chains passing over said sprocketwheels and having the ends thereof fastened to bars affixed to the top of the press-box; idler-pulleys to change the direction of said sprocket-chains; and means toimpart motion to the shaft near the bottom of the frame.

2. In the herein-described mattress-stuffing machine, means to adjust the width of the cover of the press-box comprising pressurebars affixed to the non-transversely-movable section of the cover, one at each end thereof, said bars having grooves therein; top rackbars affixed to the ends of the transverselymovable sections of the cover, one at each end thereof, having flanges adapted to move in the grooves of the pressure-bars; a shaft revolubly mounted in bearings affixed to said pressure-bars; gears on said shaft adapted to mesh with the rack-bars on said transverselymovable section of the cover.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of July, 1902.

ALLEN R. KEZER.

Witnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, M G. NICKELESON. 

